BREAKING NEWS: Proof of Covid Vaccinations requirement upon entry reinstated. In addition, Thailand is Mandating Covid insurance for foreign visitors from countries that require negative RT-PCR test results before returning home (or traveling onwards to).

95/covid-rules-for-travellers-shifting-worldwide

@Josephine ***********

NOT CORRECT. Thai Minister of Health specifically denied that restrictions would be any different for Chinese!

My mistake on Health Insurance. But as for the rest, still disagree. Either you have to deal with Embassy, or you have to deal with Immigration Office for initial 90-Day. Still must transfer 800,000 Baht to Thai Bank. Many of the large Thai Banks (e.g. Kasikorn, CIMB, Bangkok Bank, SCB) will open Acct. for Foreigners with Visa Exempt or Tourist Visa -- just need to shop around a little at the Branches. As for onward travel proof, people arriving on Visa Exempt or Tourist Visa get around this all the time, using fully Refundable Tickets, or booking with website offering 24-48hr Cancellation, and just cancelling immediately upon arrival. We, and many others, have found the process simple and easy to get Non-O after arrival. No matter, it is good to have the Option, and my advice/instructions for those who choose to go this route.

@Stuart ********

Chiang Mai for one, does NOT require Proof of Foreign Origin of Funds.

@Brandon ***********

i.e. Laos. 😉

You are not on a Visa, you got a Visa Exempt Entry Stamp, which you can extend for 30 days at local Thai Immig. Office, for 1900 Baht using TM7 Form; or you could do a Border Bounce and again receive another 45 Days Visa Exemption Stamp (thru , and thereafter 30 days).

@Jo *********

I presumed he was referring to Retirement.

@Steve ******

I disagree. Many Many Many people have done it with no difficulty. AS per my original Post above, simple and easy to change to Non-O upon arrival, and thereafter procedure for 1-yr Extension is same. And, you avoid added expense of required health insurance.

If your goal is to obtain Retirement Stay in Thailand, you can actually do it all after you arrive Visa Exempt, as follows: STEP-BY-STEP DO-IT-YOURSELF INSTRUCTIONS -- APPLYING FOR RETIREMENT STAY AFTER ARRIVAL IN THAILAND: i. You may arrive either Visa Exempt (currently 45-days), or on a 60-day Tourist Visa. ii. Then, immediately after your arrival, you must haul arse to open a Thai Bank Account, and transfer 800,000 Baht into Thai Bank Account (if married, some Immig. Offices like CM, accept Joint Account with 1.6 Mil. Baht. Also Note, that either Passbook Savings or Fixed Deposit is acceptable, but not Investment Account. Finally note, that some Immig. Offices, but not all - e.g. CM, require proof of foreign source of funds. WISE is an inexpensive, easy & reliable service to transfer funds). iii. Then, you apply for a 90-day Non-O Visa at local Thai Immigration Office. If on Visa Exempt, you use Form TM87, if on Tourist Visa TM86. You are required to apply with minimum 15-21 days remaining on permitted Stay, depending on Office (Chiang Mai, requires 21 days). Requirements: TM87 or TM86 (Note: Fear not, only 1-page Form simple to fill out in English with only basic info., name, address, passport info., arrival info, and stated purpose: "For Retirement"), Over age 50, 2000 Baht, Copy of all relevant pages of Passport (i.e. Facepage, and Entry Stamp); copy of TM30 (that is the required arrival form that is either completed by your Hotel or Condo, or you do yourself at Immig. Office w/i 24 hrs of arrival); copy of proof of residency (Rental Agreement, or Hotel Reservation -- some offices may not allow if only staying at a HOtel); and most importantly proof of the money in Bank (Copy of Bank Book, and a certified Letter from the Bank usually costing 100 Baht). Above is all simple and straightforward, so no need for spending money on a Visa Service. iv. If all docs. in order, Immig. Office will put a Sticker in your Passport that you are "under consideration", and a date to return to pick up your Visa Stamp (prior to your Stay expiration). v. Next, when you have 30 days remaining on the Non-O (and your Bank Money has "seeded" 60 days -- i.e. stayed on deposit), you go back to Immig. Office to apply for the 1-yr Retirement Extension. Requirements.: TM7 (Req. for Extension of Stay); 1900 Baht, and all other same docs. as above (newly updated of course). And, you will receive 1-yr Extension of Stay -- usually same day, if you arrive in morning. Note: For both processes above, your Bank Passbook Balance must be updated same date as application, and the Bank Letter should be no more than 7 days old -- easiest just to do both same day just before going to Immig. Office). vi. Finally, you should/must get a Re-Entry Stamp -- easiest/best to just do immediately after you get your 1-yr. Extension stamp. It can be single Re-Entry for 1000 Baht, or 3800 Baht for unlimited multiple Re-Entry. The Re-Entry Stamp allows you to leave and return to Thailand, without invalidating your 1-yr Extension. If you fail to do that, then your Extension of Stay is nullified, and you must start the process again. (IMPORTANT: If you want or need to leave Thailand while on the initial 90-Day Non-O, same thing -- must get Re-Entry Stamp.). Hope that is all clear. (NOTE: Advantage of above IN-Country Method, to getting initial Non-O OUTSIDE Country at a Thai Embassy/Consulate: Applying at Embassy outside Thailand requires additional expense of getting Health Insurance for period of stay. No Health Insurance required when applying inside Thailand. Only "Disadvantage": slightly less time once you arrive to get your Thai Bank Account Open and Deposit the req'd 800,000 Baht).

@Marc *******

Yes I do; and usually Win! 😉